East Peckam Walk Summary East Peckham River Walk

East Peckam Walk Medway Valley Countryside Partnership (MVCP) is a not for pro t East Peckham River Walk An excellent walk starting and
Summary organisation that works to enhance and protect the local countryside in the nishing in the village, taking
boroughs of Maidstone and Tonbridge. MVCP encourage people to explore
Distance: 3 miles (4.7 km) - allow 1hr 30mins and enjoy this unique part of Kent. you along a quiet stretch of the
Start/ nish: East Peckham village centre These lea ets have been produced by the Medway Valley Countryside River Medway.
Ground conditions: The walk is fairly at, and the Partnership as part of their Riverside Communities Project.
To nd out more about the Partnership and the Riverside Communities The River Medway near East Peckham
majority is on footpaths by the river. Some parts become Project visit www.medwayvalley.org or call 01622 683695
muddy during the winter. There are a few steps up and down This lea et is available in alternative formats.
to bridges. The walk takes you through a variety of elds, The information on this lea et is for guidance only and condition may vary.
scrub and woodland. For any problems concerning the paths, please tell us on Kent Report Line
Refreshments: There are a few shops and pubs around East 0845 345 0210
Peckham or the Man of Kent pub on route at Little Mill.
Tel 01622 871345

Toilets: There are public toilets at East Peckham.
Grid ref: East Peckham Village TQ 667, 486
Ordnance Survey map: Explorer 136

Travel Info

By train
The nearest train station is at Beltring, 2 miles away.
By Car
From the A228 follow the signs to East Peckham
Parking
There is a free car park in the village centre- see the route map
for details.
Bus
Buses leave regularly from Maidstone and Tonbridge directions
and stop outside the Merry Boys Pub in the village centre.

FOR MORE INFO ON PUBLIC TRANSPORT GO TO
www.traveline.info OR CALL 0871 200 22 33

Endorsed by Explore Kent
www.kent.gov.uk/explorekent

With kind support from the Bernard Sunley Charitable Foundation
and the Ernest Cook Trust

East Peckham Walk

Calm along the River Medway

The walk at East Peckham is about 3 miles Look out for: Facts
long. It is a pleasant walk from the village
centre, mainly on footpaths by the river and Man of Kent pub – A coaching inn which dates to 1588, with low- Walter Arnold, from East Peckham, received notoriety as the
a small amount on pavements or quiet roads. beamed ceilings, oak doors and an inglenook replace. rst person in Britain to be successfully prosecuted for speeding -
The walk is flat with a few steps up and down
to the bridges that cross the River. One of the tributaries to the River Medway, the River Bourne, joins travelling at four times the speed limit (actually just 8 mph, as the
the River Medway along this walk. The Bourne was once a productive speed limit at the time was just 2mph). He was ned 1 shilling, plus
Parking is available for free in the East Peckham river and used to power many mills. It is unsurprising -given the costs. He was caught by a policeman who gave chase on his bicycle.
Village Centre, opposite the library and name - that a Mill used to exist at Little Mill on the Bourne. Now part
post office. of the building is demolished and part is converted. Traditionally, the Medway is seen as dividing the old Kentish
kingdoms – re ected in the ‘Man (or Maid) of Kent’ and ‘Kentish
Kent was the most successful area in the UK for hop farming. Man’ – depending upon which side of the Medway you are born.
The walk takes you by the back of the Hop Farm Country Park Those born to the East are ‘Men of Kent’, while those born to the
which hosts the largest group of Victorian Oast Houses in the world. West are ‘Kentish Men’. Thus those born in Yalding (to the East)
would be ‘Men of Kent’, while those born in Wateringbury and East
Peckham (both to the West of the Medway) would be ‘Kentish Men’.

1

89 10 2
5
7 3
4

6

Map symbols Steps
Stile
Start/ nish

Gate

Parking Toilet

0 0.25km 0.5km 1km

0 0.5miles

Photo guide 3 45

12

67 8

9 10

Directions 4 Once over the footbridge, bare left to follow the path by the 8 Follow the road to Little Mill, opposite the Man of Kent pub walk
riverside. The path takes you around the back of The Hop Farm, over a over a stream (in fact the River Bourne) and take the footpath to the
1 From the car park turn left on to Old Road, walk along Old Road for footbridge and through some trees. right past some houses.
approximately 200 metres until you reach Pinkham Gardens, opposite
Orchard Road. Turn right into Pinkham Gardens and follow the road 5 At the footpath crossroads (there will be a large footbridge to your 9 At the end of the houses, the path divides. Keep straight on
which becomes an unmade lane. right) carry straight on, keeping the river on your right. following the path by a small section of fence, then follow the line
into the eld under the power cables. The path will swing to the left
2 Go through the kissing gates and over small bridge. Follow the path with the river on your right. It will take you through to take you along a strip of long grass and between houses.
a variety of wooded areas, open elds, over footbridges and along
Once over the bridge follow the path straight ahead until you reach narrow paths. 10 Turn right on to the road at Snoll Hatch and walk on the
the lock. pavement back to East Peckham. You will enter East Peckham Village
6 At the next crossroads turn right on to the track and over opposite the Merry Boys pub with the car park to your left.
3 Walk over the Sluice Weir Lock and footbridge (footbridge is to the the bridge. Follow the track past Stilstead Farm, along a quiet road.
left of the lock).
7 You will reach a T-junction with a larger road. Turn right on to
Once over footbridge turn right. the road. Take care on this corner, the pavement starts a few metres
along on the right.
Follow the path for a short distance and then take the next footbridge
on your right.